Daily Devotional ~ There is Only Love
Worship: If you'd like to play a song before you begin or while you read, may we recommend "Pieces" by Bethel Music. Why not try asking alexa, siri, or google to play it for you?!
Daily Verse: Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
☆ 1 Corinthians 13:8 NLT
Let's Talk About It: People have always vied for certain gifts. Some want the gift of prophecy, some speaking in tongues, others healing, discernment; there are quite a few.
But the Bible says that one day the greatest thing that will remain is love. Think about that...all that we strive for now is nothing because all that will last forever is our love. Ok, not just love...faith & hope will be there at the end as well, but as Paul says the greatest is love.
I have to be honest and say God has been having me check my motives behind my actions. Do I serve the people I do because I love them or because I feel like I have to?
Can I tell you something? There's a big difference in those mindsets. With the first, it's done with love and adoration for the other individual. For the latter, it can easily be done with duty in mind, and that can lead to a dark cave of selfishness in which we believe we are the one who deserves the servitude we put forth, and resentment sets in.
I wish I could say I do everything in love, but that's not honest. Honestly, sometimes it feels like work to love those around me. I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm sick, I'm anxious, I'm angry, I just want a break...can you relate?
The truth is, our mindsets mean so much more than we think. Let's keep love at the forefront of our mind today, and do our best to love people with our whole heart, not merely pieces.
We compartmentalize, try to make sense of that which we will only understand when we see Christ face to face, and are so intent on helping (works), we forget to love (grace).
Let's push past those things today, and all the uncomfortability, and love with our whole heart everyone we encounter.
And if you feel so inclined, let's share. What does love look like to you?
Additional Reading: Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
☆ 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
Prayer: Dear God, I thank you that you are in control of everything. Lord, I am so grateful that I needn't worry about anything because you are interceding on my behalf. Abba, thank you for loving me and teaching me what your love looks like. Lord, you know my mind and heart have a hard time fathoming the depths of your love, so please help me to love like you do with the right mindset. I don't want ro resent my duties, I want embrace them and glorify you in the process. Jesus, thank you for giving me so much more than salvation when you saved me. Thank you for loving me even in my sin. Teach me to love like you love, Lord. I thank you for it, Jesus, amen.